Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal demands a record $32M. The Tigers counter with $19M, setting the stage for a pivotal arbitration battle.
In one of the most closely watched salary arbitration cases in recent memory, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and the team will go before an arbitration panel after failing to reach a negotiated contract for the 2026 season.
According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, Skubal — a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner — filed for $32 million, while the Tigers countered with $19 million. The $13 million gap between the two sides now guarantees that an arbitrator will decide the pitcher’s pay for next season unless a settlement is reached before the hearing.
What This Means in Context
Skubal is entering his final year of team control before free agency, meaning this will be his third and final arbitration cycle. Under MLB’s current system, players, and clubs submit figures and, if they can’t settle, a panel chooses either side’s number after presentations.
Passan framed this as one of the most fascinating arbitration cases in years, not just because of the sheer dollar amounts, but because of what it could signal for elite pitchers in the modern era. Arbitration was designed to anchor players’ pay growth between their first big league contract and free agency, but Skubal’s case could reset expectations for top-tier arms nearing free agency.
Record Potential and Historical Comparisons
- The current high-water mark for a pitcher’s arbitration salary belongs to David Price at roughly $19.75 million in 2015.
- If Skubal’s filing — or the eventual arbitrator’s award — eclipses that mark, he’ll set new precedent for pitchers in arbitration.
Skubal made about $10 million in 2025 and comes off back-to-back Cy Young seasons, giving his camp plenty of leverage to argue for elite comparables, possibly invoking salaries of elite pitchers well past arbitration.
What’s at Stake for the Tigers
For Detroit, the difference between $19 million and $32 million matters in roster construction and payroll flexibility. The Tigers’ offer, while significantly lower than Skubal’s demand, still reflects respect for his impact on the mound, but the front office framed the arbitration system as a file-and-trial strategy, meaning they are prepared to argue their case formally before a panel if necessary.
What Happens Next
Both sides will present their case before a three-person arbitration panel. Unlike negotiations that can settle quietly at the last minute, the size of the gap here makes a hearing nearly inevitable.
Whether Skubal’s bid for a record arbitration payout succeeds or whether the Tigers prevail could have ripple effects around the league, particularly for late-arbitration and superstar pitchers approaching free agency.
The Tigers did avoid arbitration with 10 other players, including Riley Greene, Casey Mize, to name a few.
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